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Hawkins Genealogy Site
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Somerset
County Herald Saturday 20 Apr 1946
Page 3 Column 3 & 4
DEATH OF MR. L. S. HAWKINGS
KINGSTON HEADMASTER
HIS MANY PROFESSIONAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES
A FRIEND'S TRIBUTE
We regret to record the death of Mr. Louis S. HAWKINGS, headmaster of Kingston Church of England School for the past 33 years, which occurred at his home, The School House, Kingston, on Sunday, at the age of 62. Mr. HAWKINGS underwent an operation at the Bristol Royal infirmary, in February, and was well on the way to recovery, but contracted pneumonia when recuperating at Lyme Regis. He drove his car home on Wednesday and on Saturday his son, Dr. John HAWKINGS, who is on the staff of a Bristol Hospital, gave a good report after he had examined his father. The following afternoon, however, he had a relapse and died within a few minutes.
HIGH REPUTATION.
Mr. HAWKINGS took a prominent part in all village affairs and also devoted his energies to vocational interests. Both at Kingston and among fellow members of his profession he will be greatly missed. His school has always had a very high reputation with H.M. Inspectors and the local education authority. During his headmastership Mr. HAWKINGS has had three generations of scholars pass through his hands. His part in moulding their characters and shaping their after lives will be remembered with gratitude. Mrs. HAWKINGS was also a valuable member of the teaching staff until her retirement owing to ill-health, a short time ago. She carried on the school when her husband was serving in the Royal Navy during the 1914-1918 war.
Born at Taunton, Mr. HAWKINGS was a son of the late Mr. John HAWKINGS, sanitary engineer, Magdalene-street. His brother, Mr. P. HAWKINGS, of 5, Sydney-terrace, Staplegrove-road, Taunton, now carries on the business which their father founded.
WORK FOR THE N.U.T.
Mr. HAWKINGS began his career as a pupil teacher at the old St. Mary's Schools, Taunton. He later studied at St. Luke's Training College, Exeter, and for a short time held a post in London. A keen member of the National Union of Teachers, he had been secretary of the Taunton and West Somerset Association for many years and was also a Past President. It is largely due to his hard and untiring work in building up a large and virile membership that the branch is now the strongest in the county. Mr. HAWKINGS regularly attended the annual conferences in various parts of the country and was also a delegate to the County Teachers' Association for a long period. In addition he was chairman of the West Somerset branch of the Benevolent and Orphanage Society of the N.U.T., and of the Head Teachers' Study Group of Taunton rural district, the activities of which were in abeyance during the war.
PARISH INTERESTS.
At Kingston Mr. HAWKINGS was chairman of the Parish Council, secretary of the Parochial Church Council and of the Village Hall Committee, and a sidesman at the Parish Church. He had been a Freemason for some time and was junior warden of the Lodge of St. George, Taunton, 3158, at the time of his death. Gardening and nature study, were his main hobbies and he was deeply interested in country life generally.
He did good work during the first three years of the war as a member of the Volunteer Car Pool, after which he joined the Hospitals Car Service. During the evacuation of children to Taunton rural district his organising ability was invaluable and he was very helpful as an education liaison officer.
Mr. HAWKINGS had contributed for many years to the columns of the Somerset County Herald and his work was greatly appreciated.
Deep sympathy has been expressed with Mrs. HAWKINGS, Dr. HAWKINGS (her son), and other relatives.
AN EXAMPLE THAT WILL LAST
A FRIEND'S TRIBUTE.
Louis HAWKINGS has passed from among us, and I, as so many others, both in the teaching profession and outside it, mourn the loss of one whom we have always held in the highest esteem and affection.
I have known him intimately for nearly twenty years, and this close contact with him taught me to regard him as one who was every ready and anxious to give advice and help to all in difficulty.
His genial manner and happy smile quickly gained the confidence of all whom he met; a confidence he strictly respected at all times.
He was of a quiet, somewhat retiring disposition, gifted with abilities which he was always ready to use for the good of others, but which his modesty prevented him from feeling that he possessed. In all my long association with him I never knew him to bring to one's notice the things he had done, but he was quick to give praise and encouragement to others.
He was a schoolmaster of the best type, carrying out his duties with sincerity of purpose, as well as by example of character, which, during his long years of endeavour in Kingston, produced results of a material and spiritual nature that will last for many years to come. He had a school of which any schoolmaster could justly be proud, and many are the children who passed through his hands who have done well in after life.
His intense enthusiasm for his profession did not narrow his interests to his school alone, for, busy man though he was, he took an active part in many things outside his profession. In these he expressed that same thoroughness and integrity which had made him so successful as a schoolmaster and which earned for him the confidence and esteem of all whom he met.
To the Taunton and West Somerset teachers, his passing is an irreparable loss. Perhaps only the few, who like myself were closely associated with him, realised the tremendous amount of work he did in his office as hon. secretary. He never grumbled nor tired of the work, and the high state of efficiency of the local association is an inspiration to us all, and remains a worthy monument to him.
In
the village of Kingston, where he laboured so long, and his work was
so highly valued, and his work was so highly valued, and his advice
and help were so freely given, as well as in the teaching profession
locally, and indeed throughout the country, the memory and influence
of his sterling qualities will live for long.
R. W. Q.
FORMER PUPILS AS BEARERS
FUNERAL SERVICE AT KINGSTON.
There was a representative attendance at the funeral at Kingston Parish Church on Wednesday, prior to cremation at Arno's Vale, Bristol. The service was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. S. W. G. FROST, Miss M.G. SMITH was at the organ, and the hymns, “Blest are the pure in heart” and “The King of Love my Shepherd is,” were sung.
Six former pupils of Mr. HAWKINGS acted as bearers – Messrs. G. SAGE, W. THOMAS, B. BROOKS, E. LOCK, F. COLES, and R. HOOPER.
Principal mourners were: - Mrs. HAWKINGS (wife) Dr. John HAWKINGS, Bristol (son), Mr. Percy HAWKINGS (brother), Mrs. A. LITTLETON (sister-in-law), Mrs. G. BRAUND (sister-in-law), and Mr. F. MANLEY (brother-in-law).
Taunton and West Somerset branch of the National Union of Teachers was represented by the following:- Miss W. BATTERSHILL (president), Mr. C. H. FISHER (treasurer), Mr. R. W. QUICK, a personal friend (also representing Taunton Rural Head Teachers' Study Circle, and St. George's Masonic Lodge Taunton 3178, and the Worshipful Master, Bro. W. G. FISHER), Mr. D. W. HURD, Mr. A. E. WILLCOX, Mr. J. S. JENNINGS, Mr. H. J. JEFFERIES, Mr. C. J. WEAVER (also representing Somerset County Teachers' Association), Mr. W. J. CORNEY, Mr. W. E. BRASHIER, Miss L. KEMP, Miss D. SMITHERAM (Kingston School), Miss A. O. APLIN, Miss E. M. FOX, and Miss B. WILSON.
MASONIC BRETHREN.
St. George's Masonic Lodge, Taunton 3178, was represented by Bros. Andrew WILKINSON, treasurer, and D. DAVIES (also Taunton Rural Head Teachers' Study Circle and Taunton branch N.U.T.), W. B. CLATWORTHY, H. O. SAMSON, A. G. MARSHALL, A. J. PERCY, F. HAWKINS, W. G. PLEASS, A. R. CASS, R. H. MAY, L. PRICE (also representing Bro. E. T. MARSHALL), H. G. ANDREWS (also representing the N.U.T.), Selwyn SMITH, and S. C. K. KINGDON (also representing the N.U.T.), Mr. S. S. ORCHARD represented Taunton Deane Lodge and Major T. E. BARTLETT (Taunton School), and Mr. D. H. MIDDLETON Lodge 261.
REPRESENTATIVE MOURNERS.
Others present:- Mr. and Mrs. F. J. WILLIAMS, Mr. H. SELWAY, Mr. L. A. GRAY, Mr. J. SMITHERAM, Mrs. A. BURROWS, Mr. H. J. TIPPER, Mrs. A. E. WILLCOX, Miss J. PARSONS, Mrs. J. F. DAVIDSON, Mrs. G. SEALEY, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. WHITE, Mr. G. KINGHAM, Miss L. E. DEAN, Mr. F. H. SEALEY, Mrs. S. BURROWS, Mrs. P. W. WINTER, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. THORNE., Mr. ARMSTRONG, Mrs. E. GAMBLIN, Mr and Mrs. D. G. MILNER, Mr. A. BULGIN (also representing Mr. H. GREED) and Mrs. BULGIN, Mrs J. SCOTT, Mr. H. O. STONE, Mr. D. HURMAN, Mr. V. LOCK, Mesdames E. COLES and D. HAYNES and Miss L. PALFREY (canteen staff), Captain A. C. PAWSON (also representing the Hon Mrs. Mervyn HERBERT), Mrs. W. FARMER, Mrs. F. KENNEDY (representing Kingston Women's Institute), Mrs. B. THORP, Mrs. W. HURMAN, Mrs. R. W. HEALE (representing Mr. E. F. W. HEALE and family), Mrs. E. BROMFIELD, Mr. A. G. HOOPER, Mrs. B. ALLEN, Captain W. McGOWAN, Mrs. W. J. RUCKLEY, Mrs. A. THOMAS, Miss M. THOMAS, Miss A. E. KIDNER, Miss WATERS, Mrs. and Mrs. C. EATON, Mrs. W. H. BAILEY (also representing Mr. BAILEY), Mrs. J. B. TAYLOR (representing Major TAYLOR), Mr. H. CHAPMAN, Mrs. K. BARTON, Mrs. P. SHATTOCK, Mr. R. R. ROBERTS (representing the Editor and staff of the “Somerset County Herald”), Miss M. WHISH (also representing Mr. E. B. WHISH), Mrs. W. BREED, Mrs. F. VINCENT, Mrs. E. LOCK, Mrs. A. SWEETING, Mr. A. G. GILL (school attendance officer), Mr. and Mrs. R. L. HAM, Mr. F. COLES, Mrs. S. W. G. FROST, Mrs. M. WETHERDEN, Mrs. M. BROWN, Mrs. J. S. JENNINGS, Mrs. R. W. QUICK, Mr. E. LOCK, the Misses E. M. and M. PLATT, Miss EDEN, Mr. J. STREET, Mrs. L. PALFREY, Mrs. S. COLES, Mrs. F. CREECH, Mrs. W. BURROWS, Miss E. PEAKE (representing Mr. W. J. DEACON, chief county education officer) Mrs. L. E. LEACH, Mr. F. J. CARNALL, Mr. and Mrs. J. HOUSE, Mr. and Mrs. H. POCOCK, Mr. J. H. HOOPER, Mr H. LYDDON, Mr. R. N. CARNALL, Mrs. I. LOCHHEAD, and Mrs. H. LOWMAN.
There were many floral tributes.
Teachers unable to send flowers can, through Miss L. KEMP, 2, Fowler-street, Taunton, send donations to the Benevolent and Orphans' Fund for homes for aged teachers.
Mrs. HAWKINGS and Dr. John HAWKINGS express sincere thanks for he many letters of sympathy and floral tributes received.